Live 2026 NFL Draft Grades: Round 5

2026 NFL Draft Grades for Round 5:

141. Houston Texans: Kamari Ramsey, S, USC – A Grade
     Kamari Ramsey has excellent coverage skills. I thought he could have gone two rounds earlier than this, so the Texans are getting a great value atop Round 5.
     
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142. Tennessee Titans: Fernando Carmona, OT, Arkansas – A- Grade
     Fernando Carmona is a tough run blocker with some upside in pass protection. He was a potential third-round pick, so perhaps Carmona can develop into a starter who can displace one of the weak Tennessee tackles.
     
     
143. Arizona Cardinals: Reggie Virgil, WR, Texas Tech – C- Grade
     Reggie Virgil is a very tall receiver who can make big plays downfield, but he’s extremely thin and needs to bulk up quite a bit. I had him going in the seventh round, so I’m not a fan of this value.
     
     
144. Carolina Panthers: Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State – B- Grade
     Sam Hecht has supposedly maxed out his frame, so there’s not much upside. He has below-average power. He should be a fine backup, and I had him going around this range, so this pick is just OK.
     
     
145. Los Angeles Chargers: Nick Barrett, DT, South Carolina – B Grade
     Nick Barrett is a stout defensive tackle, but doesn’t have much quickness. He’s also raw and inexperienced. There’s some upside though, and he could potentially fill a need. I had him going around this range.
     
     
146. Cleveland Browns: Parker Brailsford, C, Alabama – D Grade
     Parker Brailsford is a quick lineman, but lacks power and arm length. I didn’t have him in my mock draft, so I can’t be a fan of this selection.
     
     
147. Washington Redskins: Joshua Josephs, DE, Tennessee – A Grade
     Joshua Josephs has the potential to be a designated pass rusher in the pros. I had him going at the end of the third round. Washington signed multiple defensive ends this free agency, but two of them were for one year, so Josephs will be a replacement in 2027.
     
     
148. Seattle Seahawks: Beau Stephens, G, Iowa – B+ Grade
     Beau Stephens was a mauler in the running game for Iowa, so he’ll go well with Jadarian Price. Guard was a need, and I had Beau Stephens going eight picks earlier in my mock draft, so this is a solid selection.
     
     
149. Cleveland Browns: Justin Jefferson, ILB, Alabama – D Grade
     Justin Jefferson moves well in coverage, but is undersized. Linebacker wasn’t a need for the Browns, and this isn’t even a value because I had Jefferson in the seventh round.
     
     
150. Las Vegas Raiders: Dalton Johnson, S, Arizona – B Grade
     Dalton Johnson is undersized and is an inconsistent tackler, but has great coverage skills. The Raiders need defense, and Johnson fits this range, so this is a fine pick.
     
     
151. Carolina Panthers: Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State – A Grade
     Zakee Wheatley is considered a sleeper safety prospect. He was stout against the run for Penn State. I had him going late in the third round, so this is spectacular value and fills a need.
     
     
152. Denver Broncos: Justin Joly, TE, N.C. State – A+ Grade
     The Broncos were interested in a tight end earlier, and they could have taken this tight end earlier. Justin Joly is a great athlete with outstanding hands, but he’s undersized and doesn’t block well. Still, he could fill Sean Payton’s Joker role and be a great weapon.
     
     
153. Green Bay Packers: Jager Burton, C, Kentucky – B Grade
     Jager Burton is a quality pass protector, and the Packers needed to continue to beef up their offensive line. I like that Burton can play both center and guard.
     
     
154. San Francisco 49ers: Jaden Dugger, LB, Louisiana – MILLEN Grade
     I didn’t have Jaden Dugger as a draftable player, or even a priority UDFA. He was not in my top 400. This is an embarrassing pick.
     
     
155. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DeMonte Capehart, DT, Clemson – A Grade
     DeMonte Capehart is a massive defensive tackle with upside. I thought Capehart was a Round 3-4 guy, so to get him in the fifth round is a nice move by the Buccaneers.
     
     
156. Indianapolis Colts: George Gumbs Jr., OLB, Florida – B+ Grade
     George Gumbs is a raw edge rusher who has a high ceiling. The Colts needed as many edge rushers as possible entering the 2026 NFL Draft, so I like that they’re swinging for the fences.
     
     
157. Detroit Lions: Keith Abney, CB, Arizona State – A Grade
     Keith Abney is a small cornerback but projects to play very well in the slot. The Lions have had issues with their cornerbacks recently, and they’re taking a quality prospect with value at this choice.
     
     
158. Miami Dolphins: Michael Taaffe, S, Texas – B Grade
     Michael Taaffe was strong in run support for the Longhorns. Miami’s safety situation is quite dismal, so any help is welcome. I had Taaffe going in this range.
     
     
159. Minnesota Vikings: Max Bredeson, FB, Michigan – B Grade
     Max Bredeson is a tough run-blocking fullback. The Vikings had issues with their ground attack last year, so Bredeson should help.
     
     
160. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Billy Schrauth, G, Notre Dame – A Grade
     Billy Schrauth is great in pas protection, but he has an extensive injury history. The Buccaneers needed to strengthen their interior blocking, so if Schrauth can stay healthy, he could offer an upgrade sooner rather than later.
     
     
161. Kansas City Chiefs: Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska – A Grade
     Emmett Johnson is a very agile running back with great vision. Pass protection is a concern, however. The Chiefs needed depth behind Kenneth Walker because Walker isn’t known as someone who can handle a full workload. I had Johnson in the third round, so I love this value.
     
     
162. Baltimore Ravens: Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke – B+ Grade
     Chandler Rivers is an instinctive and tough corneback, but is short. He can play in the slot and perhaps eventually be an upgrade for the Ravens, who needed to address their secondary. I had Rivers going a bit earlier than this.
     
     
163. Minnesota Vikings: Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin – B+ Grade
     Charle Demmings has good height and potential, but was flagged too often. Cornerback was a need, and perhaps Brian Flores can get Demmings to play his best because there’s definitely a lot of upside with him.
     
     
164. Jacksonville Jaguars: Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston – B Grade
     Tanner Koziol was a highly productive receiving tight end. He has great mismatch height to be an end zone threat. Koziol is a fine pick for the Jaguars, who wanted to draft another tight end to run more multi-tight end formations.
     
     
165. Tennessee Titans: Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State – A Grade
     Nicholas Singleton is a dynamic back who can go the distance whenever he touches the ball. He has an injury issue, which is why he slipped in the draft. This is great value for the Titans, who need a better long-term back.
     
     
166. Chicago Bears: Keyshaun Elliott, LB, Arizona State – B Grade
     Keyshaun Elliott is a dangerous blitzer and a versatile linebacker. The Bears lost a linebacker during the offseason, so they needed a replacement. I had Elliott going six picks earlier, so the range makes sense.
     
     
167. Buffalo Bills: Jalon Kilgore, CB/S, South Carolina – A+ Grade
     Jalon Kilgore is a very versatile and talented defensive back who can play cornerback and safety. He should have gone much earlier than this – I had him in the second and third round of my mock drafts – so the Bills are getting a steal in the middle of Round 5.
     
     
168. Detroit Lions: Kendrick Law, WR, Kentucky – C Grade
     Kendrick Law is a speedy slot receiver. The Lions obviously already have someone to play in the slot, but this is insurance in case Amon-Ra St. Brown gets hurt. I had Law as a Round 6-7 player, however.
     
     
169. Pittsburgh Steelers: Riley Nowakowski, TE, Indiana – B- Grade
     Riley Nowakowski has great hands and can make big plays after the catch. However, he’s short but blocks well. The Steelers lost Jonnu Smith, so it’s not a surprise that they grabbed a tight end. I had Nowakowki in the sixth round.
     
     
170. Cleveland Browns: Joe Royer, TE, Cincinnati – B+ Grade
     Joe Royer can make plays in the passing game, but must improve his blocking. The Browns lost David Njoku, so they were expected to find another intermediate threat to join Harold Fannin. I had Royer going 30 picks earlier than this, so Cleveland is getting good value.
     
     
171. New England Patriots: Karon Prunty, CB, Wake Forest – B Grade
     Karon Prunty is fine for this range for the Patriots, who needed to bolster secondary depth. Prunty is a talented zone corner, but he’s very weak and needs to beef up for the NFL.
     
     
172. New Orleans Saints: Lorenzo Styles, S, Ohio State – B Grade
     Lorenzo Styles is an incredibly athletic safety who has upside. Styles could give the Saints a future starter, or at the very least, a special teamer. I thought he could go in this range.
     
     
173. Baltimore Ravens: Josh Cuevas, TE, Alabama – A- Grade
     Josh Cuevas flashed some ability as a receiver, though he wasn’t overly productive at Alabama. With two tight ends departing this offseason, the Ravens needed to address this area on multiple occasions. I had Cuevas going to the Ravens at No. 154, so I have to like this pick.
     
     
174. Baltimore Ravens: Adam Randall, RB, Clemson – B Grade
     Adam Randall has good speed for a big back, but he drops the ball often and struggles in pass protection. With Derrick Henry close to aging out of the NFL, the Ravens needed to find a potential successor.
     
     
175. Las Vegas Raiders: Hezekiah Masses, CB, California – D Grade
     Hezekiah Masses is a lengthy cornerback, but he is frail and commits lots of penalties. The Raiders should be concentrating more on offense instead of drafting seventh-round cornerbacks.
     
     
176. Kansas City Chiefs: Cyrus Allen, WR, Cincinnati – B Grade
     Cyrus Allen is a terrific route runner with quality hands who can make plays after the catch. There are some durability concerns, however. Given how poor the Chiefs’ receiver group is, there’s a chance that Allen plays plenty of snaps sooner rather than later.
     
     
177. Miami Dolphins: Kevin Coleman Jr., WR, Missouri – B Grade
     Kevin Coleman is an undersized receiver, but could play in the slot while doubling as a kick returner. The Dolphins have such a weak group of receivers that Coleman could contribute right away. I had him going five picks earlier, so the range makes sense.
     
     
178. Philadelphia Eagles: Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State – C- Grade
     Cole Payton needs work reading the field and developing a pocket presence, but he’s athletic and accurate. I can’t say I’m a fan of this pick, as there were better quarterbacks available.
     
     
179. San Francisco 49ers: Enrique Cruz Jr., OT, Kansas – D Grade
     Enrique Cruz Jr. is an athletic offensive tackle, but has short arms and may have to move to guard. I didn’t have Cruz in my top-400 prospects, so he was nowhere near my mock draft, but at least the 49ers are taking someone with a bit of upside.
     
     
180. Miami Dolphins: Seydou Traore, TE, Mississippi State – D Grade
     Seydou Traore is not someone I had in my top-400 prospects. He’s a tweener receiver-tight end, and I don’t think he has a role in the NFL. He’s an athletic prospect, but where does he play besides special teams?
     
     
181. Buffalo Bills: Zane Durant, DT, Penn State – B Grade
     Zane Durant is a quick defensive tackle, but is a bit undersized. He can potentially help the Bills generate more quarterback pressure. I had him going in Round 6, so the range makes sense.